More than a year ago, we wrote how foolish it is for Oro Valley to fund, in any way, the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) You can read these postings by clicking here. It's one of those topics that just keeps coming up.
After all, if Oro Valley can't fund Coyote Run, a service vital to our most needy, why should Oro Valley fund this organization?
Currently, MTCVB is funded by the bed tax to an amount in the range of $70,000 to $75,000.
According to MTCVB's report to town council of July 15, 2011:
- "Oro Valley benefited from two sports events that the MTCVB brought to the
Town-- the Iron Kids competition and the USA Triathlon Duathalon Competition
which combined made an economic impact of over $750,000 to the Town."
Apparently, we are not the only ones questioning the value of the MTCVB.
Last week, the Daily Star posted an article entitled: Tourism Bureau Gets Poor Marks.
You can read the article.
- "Overall satisfaction with the bureau was pegged at "less than
satisfactory," or 3.1 on a 5-point scale. Bureau leadership was
rated "weak," as relates to economic development, at 2.9."
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6 comments:
I remember the dialog here on the LOVE Blog about our feeling that Oro Valley wasn't getting much of anything for its contribution to the MTCVB. And I remember Thinker defending the MTCVB.
Now, no one can say that the LOVE bloggers are just a bunch of complainers who don't know what we're talking about. The current complaints about the MTCVB came from people IN THE HOTEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY. I suppose Thinker will claim that they don't know what they're talking about either.
Their take on the MTCVB correlates with what we said all along.
"Overall satisfaction with the bureau was pegged at less than satisfactory."
"Bureau leadership was rated weak."
"Many respondents called for new leadership."
"...lack of leadership...lethargy."
So, how much longer is OV going to keep funneling our tax dollars to this useless organization?
Last night on KOLD, there was also a report on the MTCVB with respect to the Tucson International Airport.
Questions arising as to why Tucson residents prefer to fly out of Phoenix despite the 2-hour drive...and why people traveling TO Tucson also prefer to fly in to Phoenix...and the connection to the tourism dollars we're losing as a result.
Of course, I could answer that question even before the reporter did. Flights out of Phoenix are cheaper and there are more flights to choose from with more convenient times.
Tucson just can't do anything right.
Penny wise - Pound foolish thinking pervades in this article.
The issue of taking Bed Tax derived funds that cost OV taxpayers nothing and routing them in a different direction really does little to help the town better itself -- it would cover a wound --- but would the wound truly heal?
The Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) principal funding comes from the Bed Tax. The funds derived from the Bed Tax are a direct result of their success in promoting Southern Arizona to tourists and convention visitors. In today’s economic climate the OV proposed loss of $70,000 or more would directly impact MTCVB’s ability to continue in this direction. And soon, the $70K would be less, and OV would be looking for another way to offset the reduced revenue.
We’ve been associated with the MTCVB for a decade. This association has bettered
From my perspective, as an Oro Valley-based business owner and a marketing partner with the MTCVB, I am grateful for the work they do to drive business to this area. The Oro Valley Town Council should be recognized for their leadership in contributing to a unified effort to market the region. One of Oro Valley's most important employers and a major tax generator is the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador. MTCVB generates convention business for the El Con--including 24 separate meetings last year that brought 10,000 room nights to the area and $4.3 million in economic prosperity to Oro Valley. That's a return of $57 dollars bed tax dollars invested. Whenever we can trade one-dollar-bills for fifty-dollar bills, it's a good idea to come up with as many ones as possible--especially when those dollars come from visitors! BTW--that's not counting the two sporting events mentioned previously!
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Hello Paradebob and AZ Golf,
Welcome to our blog.
The purpose of our blog is to promote good dialogue about Oro Valley.
We welcome your comments.
The purpose of the posting was not to "destroy" MTCVB or to even de-fund it. It was to point out that for more than a year, we have been concerned about the value of the Oro Valley relationship with it. Apparently, based on the Daily Star article, others are concerned with the value they are getting.
These are realities with which the MTCVB must deal.
The fact that the Oro Valley money comes from the bed tax is not relevant is it? If the money didn't go to this organization, it could go to other needed Oro Valley causes. Perhaps, Oro Valley could use this money to promote economic development?
Oro Valley and the "not incorporated" foothills are the "jewels" of Southern Arizona. Having Oro Valley marketed with anything that has to do with the "armpit" of the region, Tucson, is not a marketing advantage for Oro Valley. It is a marketing advantage for Tucson.
Perhaps it would be wise for the organization to change its name. Dump the word "Tucson". Call itself the Southern Arizona Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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Elitist rhetoric The Zee Man... merely a blip on the Arizona map.
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